Polasara: The 4th State-Level Convocation Festival – 2025 was grandly celebrated by the renowned literary organization “Gunjan Sahitya Sansad” in Kabisuryanagar, Ganjam district. The event featured retired senior administrative officer Shri Durga Prasad Dash as the chief guest, while Shri Simanchal Mishra served as the keynote speaker. Distinguished guests included eminent literary figure Shri Murali Dhar Nanda, Professor Dr. Samir Kumar Bhoi, and Dr. Sushant Kumar Panda, Director of Asika Sugar Industry.
The festival was presided over by literary figure Shri Ramanath Majhi, while editor Shri Yajnadatta Samantaray coordinated the event. The chief guest inaugurated the festival with a ceremonial lamp lighting, followed by Aradha Mishra’s rendition of “Bande Utkal Janani” and Champu songs of Kabisurya Baladev Rath. The convocation festival included book releases, discussions, and poetry recitations. The first session commenced with the introduction of guests and a reading of the editorial note. The main publication of the literary organization, Anuragar Gunjan, along with a poetry collection by poet Prakash Chandra Muni, was released by chief guest Shri Radhamadhav.
Discussions were held on Kabisurya Baladev Rath’s birthplace, Athagarh, and his literary contributions, particularly his Ashtadurga Itihasa. On this occasion, six distinguished literary personalities from Odisha were honored:
Banchhanidhi Chaudhary Sahitya Samman was awarded to senior essayist Dr. Karshik Chandra Raut.
Bhagaban Samantaray Smruti Samman was given to distinguished literary figure Shri Harihar Chaudhary.
Manaslakshmi Pattnayak Smruti Samman was conferred upon senior storyteller Shri Gopabandhu Pattnayak.
Lingaraj Mahapatra Smruti Samman was awarded to poet Shri Dhananjay Swain.
Basudev Chaudhary Children’s Literature Award was presented to children’s writer Bipin Bihari Satpathy.
Subash Patra Youth Talent Award was given to young storyteller Engineer Ghanshyam Palei.
All awardees were honored with shawls, plaques, and certificates. The session concluded with a vote of thanks by co-editor Shri Bishnu Charan Pattnayak.
The second session featured a deeply emotional poetry reading festival. Presided over by literary figure Shri Mihir Kumar Satpathy, with educationist Shri Murali Dhar Nanda as the chief guest, the session saw participation from hundreds of poets and poetesses from different districts of Odisha. Poetesses Dibyani Martha and Tapaswini Mishra coordinated the poetry presentations.
Singer Aradha Mishra, poet Pramod Kumar Raul, and Arun Kumar Mishra were also honored during the event. Members including Bishnu Charan Pattnayak, Rameshwar Sahu, Ananta Bidika, and Sushant Lenka were actively involved in organizing the program.